Bookcase



U. G. LEE.

BOOKCASE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1I. Ism.

Pateutedlune 17, 1919.

hmmm.

II. I3. LEE.

I IOOKCASE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. II. 191s.

3 SHEETSMSHEET 3.

il i.

.aaiy l ULYSSES G.. LEE, OF CHICGO, ILLINOIS.

BOOKCASE.

isomer Specification of Letters Patent. y

Patented June I7, fllig?.

Application filled April 11, 1918. ,"Seral No. 227,956.

To all lwhom, it may conce/m i Be it known that I, ULYssEs G. LEE, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain and useful Improvements in Bookcases,'of which the following is a specification.

My invention comprises a book-case and a reference booloholder, designedv for instance to hold a dictionary and a set 'of books like encyclopedias and it consists in/ the features and combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, andl ,particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FigJQ is a detail view of the means for holding the reference book and adapted to keep the exposed upper parts, or leaves of said book substantially in one plane when` the-book is open, irrespective of which side the bulk ofthe leaves may-be disposed.

Fig. 3 is a plan View@l of Fig. 2 with parts in dottedl'ines. Y Fig. 4i-iidicates a condition when the book is stiff andthe major portion of its leaves are on one side .of the' books center line. Fig. 5 is a' front view of the invention. Fig. 6 is advertical sectional view of Fig.

l5 on the lineA-A looking from the right.

Fig. 7 is a side view looking from the right of IFig. 5. .Fig. 8 is a sectionalview of a modification.

In these `drawings 1 indicates the frame which is iiil the general form of a desk or table. It/liasan opening 2 in its top through y fwhich the `reference book, as adictionary,

is exposed to view, and a cover 3 is hinged at the rear of the table and is adapted to close the said opening 2, when the reference book is not in use.y l f lAt the `front there is a depending leaf d, below which there is an opening d, through which a book rack B may be drawn to the front to hold the books in inclined position, so that they may be readily accessible. The reference book holder comprises two platforms 4, 5, one for supporting one side, of

thebook', and the other p for supporting the other side.' i 'I These platforms are lifted or pressed upwardly by `springs 6, preferably of spiral form, bearing near the adjacent ends of the platforms, said .springs resting upon the partition-7 in the case or frame. For guiding the platforms in their vertical movements, and for holding them level under all circumstances I'provide arms 8 and 9, these arms being pivotally connected at their crossin points 10 and ivotally connected respectively to the partition at 11, and to the platform at'12.Y There are two sets of these arms for each platform, as shown in the plan view, Fig. 3, and I prefer to provide these arms in the formyof Ushaped frames, as indicated in dotted lines in said Fig 3.. The free endsvof the arms 8 and 9, respectively, engage the platform and the partition or base 7, and are provided preferably with anti-frictiorr rolls to work on the surfaces of said parts. The pivots 1l and- '12 of the U-shaped frames are substantially in the same vertical plane with each other, and near the vertical plane of the inner or adjacentedgesrof the platforms while the freei ends of the said U-shaped frames lie at points nearer the outer edges of the platforms, and-when the platform is depressed platforms, and the 'crossed frames dov the guiding and maintain the platforms level under all conditions. No guiding means other than the crossed frames is employed,

thisfunction being carried out entirely by the said frames.

Fig. 4 illustrates one-of the conditions that must be met. v In this figure the book is supposed t be new and stiE at its back, which would cause the Weight of the left, hand cover section and the leaves thereon to be applied atthe left-hand edge of the plat- '.form, instead of being evenly distributed over the platform, but even in this extreme case the 'platform will be maintained in horizontal position, as shown. The same thing is true should the platform be set in slightly inclined position. It will be held in thls position no matter Where vthe reponderance of weight may be.

T- e reference book support, as Vabove indicated, is located in the space above the partition, 7 whereas the book rack is located in the space below said partition. The cover k3 besides serving as a closing means for the located at about the center of gravity thereof. When closing Ybook rack is controlled rotatively by the link G, which is `pivoted to the case at h and connects with vthe book rack at H.

The trunnions E have a bearing in the middle of bars I. The front -ends of these.

bars are connected to the links J, the lower ends of which are pivoted to the case at K. The other ends of bars I are connected to a rocker L, which is of U-shape and extends to the left hand end'of the case, see Fig. 5, l

and is there connected to the mechanism at that end. This rocker is pivoted to the case. at R.

` It will be observed that certain parts Which are located at the left hand end of case perform the same function as those at the right hand end, and are therefore given 'the same numbers, these parts being the i trunnion supporting bars I, the links J, and

the rocker L being 0f U-shape has one of its arms at the right and the lother at 'the left of the case.

The rocker L connects With the bars I at opposite ends of the case, and causes them to act in unison. Only the parts which ysupport the book rack and control the direction of its movement are ythe same at both ends.

'The link G is at one end only, also the locking dogs M and N. These locking dogs are pivoted to the case at O. The dog M has a handle pin P extending through theccaseat the right hand end and a slotted plate Q is fastened to the outside of the case, thus limiting the movement of the dog M from which the handlev projects. The locking dog N, is connected by means of arod S to a rocker T. The rod S has a `nut and jam nut at its upper end for adjustment, as at S. Rocker T is pivoted to the case at U, and its inner end is provided With an arm Y, which at its opposite end projects upwardy to make contact Withwa button W, fastened `to the underside of hinged cover 3.` This button touches the arm V just as the hinged cover closes and depresses this arm about 5g of an' inch. A spring Y lifts up on the rocker T, and the dog N connected thereto when the hinged cover is open. When the cover is open the dog N is held up in its inoperative position by this spring, but When the cover is closed the spring is `compressed by rocker T and dog N drops byfitsjoWn Weight into position to serve as a lock for holdingthe book rack in closed position.

The dog M- ifs shown in Fig. 7 in its engagement with a pin Z which projects from the side of the rocker L. The book rack'is thereby locked4 in the open position shown in Fig. 7, until the latch M is released by lifting the handle pin P.

The rocker L has an arm a, v vvhichis connected by a link b, to an arm on The arm c is .fastened to a leaf hinged to the casing at e. This rocker thereby controls the leaf' so that it closes dov'vn When the case is closed f Suitable handles fare provided for pulling book rack out and when in position shown in Fig. 7, thev locking dog M drops down into the path of pin Z, and holds the' mechanism in position, Where it remains until the locking dog isf/lifted by the handle P.

It will be observed that the bars I, links J and rocker L pivoted as described are members of a straight line movement, there-V fore the trunnions E representing the center of the Weight, move along the straight line G andD when the mechanism operates. I prefer to have this straight line slope downward toward the rear, as shown, so that' When the dog Mis released the book rack rolls back to closed position. 1

' When the book rack is in its closed posief tion the` pin Z is engaged by dog N, andfis thereby locked until the hinged cover 3 is opened When this cover is opened the spring Y liftsthe rocker T andrdog, N, by means of rodv S. The dog Nis'lthus lifted ico out of the 'path of pinZ and the book rack `may bepulledout to its'open positiom The cover 3 may then-be closed, if desired, and locked with a lock and key-y (not shown). .It is then only necessary to release the dog M,

whereupon the book rack 'will automatically `move back into the case and will become locked 'the pin Z passing to the right of'4 the locking member N, which is free to yield-.-

upwardly to allow the pin to pass it when said pin 'engages with and rides along the.V

lower edge ofthe said lock N. After the pin Z passes the rear end of the lock said lock returns to locking position by gravity, where it will remain until the cover 3 is again operated.

Instead of the controlling means for lock N being such as is shown in Fig, 7 I may employ "that shown in Fig. 8, in which the rod S is lifted by a spring Y when thev cover 3 is lifted, exerting its force through a rod S7. This rod engages under the nuts S on'the 1'od"`S:V Therod -S extends into the opening 2 of the top of the casing, so as to be borne upon by the cover, andbe pressed down thereby when the cover is closed, thus eliniinating the lifting power of the spring and allowing the rod S to fallwby gravity and the locking member to fallIinto locking position.

The view Fig. `8 is a vertical sectional View of the right-hand end of the casing taken longitudinally and hence the view is looking from the front of the casing.

It will be seen from the above that to gain access to the books in the book 'rack it Iis necessary to raise the cover 3, whereupon the lock N will be raised to inoperative position,

and the book rack then may be drawn outwardly, and held by the latch M, so that the books can be taken out at will. The lifting of the cover of course also exposes the dictionary, or other reference book, mounted on the platforms, andthe leaves thereof can be conveniently turned.

If the reference book is not needed the cover may be closed and locked while the.

book rack remains open, or the cover need not -be closed until after the Abook rack is returned into the case. .r

In either event, however, the lock Nrwill' be set in its locking position, but if thiseis one before the book rack is returned this willnot interfere with `the locking action,

'.because, as above described, the pin Z can pass to the right f the locking member to be locked thereby because of the yielding of the saidmember..

What I' claim is: 1. In combination aA'casing, abock'support adapted to hold a book-exposed at an opening in said casing, a cover for said opening and a movable book rack adapted --to occupy a closedposition/ within the lcasing, or to be drawn out therefrom, lockin means for the said book rack and a contro lin connect-ion'for said locking' means contro led by the cover or lid, substantially as described. p

2. In combination a casing, a book support adapted -to hold a book exposed `at an opening in said casing, a cover for said opening and a movable book rack adapted to V05:-- cupy a closed position within the casing, or to be drawn outtherefrom, lockingmeans for the said book rack, and a controlling connection for said locking means controlled by the cover or lid, said connection placing the locking means in inoperative position when the cover is opened and said locking means assuming a position to lock the bookl 'I and permitting said lock to assumed its locking position when Ithe cover is closed, the said connection being yielding to allow the book rack to Vbe moved to its closed position and to be engaged by the'lock after the cover is closed and the lock has assumed its locking position, substantially as described.

opening, a cover for saidopening, a book rack, means for movably` supporting the book rack to assume a position in the casing orto be moved forward to present the books to the user, a lock for holding the, book rack in its closed position, a connection extendv ing from the lock to be borne upon bythe cover to make the lock assume locking position, said connection including a spring to move the lock to inoperative position :when Ithe cover is raised, said spring yielding when the cover is closed and the lock assumes locking position, said lock being then capable 0f yielding independent of the-'spring to permit the book rack to assume'a closed posi- ,tion -andto be engaged by the lock, substantially as describe l l 5. In combination afcasing, a book'rack, means for movably supporting the book rack to-enable it to be drawn forward, or to be moved into the casing, a lock for holding the book rack in its forward position with the books' presented to .the user, a lock for holding the rack in its closed position, said 4:. In combination With'a casing having an y casing having an opening, a cover for said V.Qpening, trunnions for said book rack about which it turns and by which the rack is supported, bearing members for said trunnions andA swingin means for supporting said fbearing mem ers and giving the trun'nion points a straight line movement to and from position within the casing, substantially as described.

7. In combination a casing, a book rack, trunnions for said book rack, bars forming bearings for the said trunnions, links connecting' one end of the bars to the casing and swinging means, connecting the other ends of the bars to `the casing to direct the movement ofthe rack 'to and from the casing, substantially as described.

8. In combination a casing, a book rack, trunnions for the |book rack,.bearing members for the trunnions, swinging means connecting the bearing members with the casing, to control the movement of the said bearing members to move the book rack into or out from the casing, and a link connect- 'ing the book rack with the casing to turn the said book y rack, substantially as described.

having trunnions, bars in which the`tru1inions bear, links connected with the forward ends of said bearing bars, extending downwardly therefrom, and pivotal-ly connected with the casing, arms pivotally connected with the rear ends.y of the bearing 9. In combination a casing, a' book rack` lLaw/,261 Y bars, extending upwardly therefrom', and

from the casing and means for turning the v.'554l book rack as it is moved into and out of the i casing, substantially as described. 10. In combination a casing, a bookrac'k, swinging means for supporting said book rack, means for turning the book rack as 4C it swings, a leaf for closing the opening between thebook rack and thecasing and means for automatically moving said leaf to closing position and for moving it to open position, as the book rack is moved into and 45 `out of the casing respectively, substantially as described.

11. In combination a casing having an opening in its front, a book rack, supporting means for the book rack including swinging i arms to direct it in its movement to and from the casing, a pivotd leaf to close'the opening in the casing above the book rack, and a Aconnection between the said swinging leaf and the swinging arms for automati` '5- cally operating `the leaf asthe book lrack is moved-to andfrom its closed position, substantially as described. In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

ULYSSES G. LEE. 

